A tribunal has rejected a claim that the permanent impairments in a worker's knees, caused by four months of repetitive ladder climbing and crouching, can't be combined under controversial laws because one knee injury "commenced" two years earlier.
A senior worksite manager allowed his preconceptions of a union to "colour his attitude" when he breached the Fair Work Act, and showed disregard for WHS laws, by ripping up entry notices and telling officials they couldn't investigate serious safety issues until after a site meeting, the Federal Court has found.
The Fair Work Commission has advised an employer and a union to adopt a "new cooperative approach" to workplace safety concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, after the former sought orders curtailing the union's entry rights in light of current health restrictions.
The operator of the Dreamworld theme park has been handed an Australian record-high workplace health and safety fine of $3.6 million, after its "frighteningly unsophisticated" safety systems resulted in the deaths of four patrons in October 2016.
An employer has failed to overturn its $300,000 WHS fine by claiming the trial judge failed to address the extent to which it controlled a workplace or whether it was obligated to implement the measures identified by the prosecution.
A PCBU's WHS breaches, which led to the hydrogen sulphide deaths of two workers and put a third in mortal peril, were in the high range of culpability and warranted a near maximum pre-discount penalty, a judge has ruled.
An employer's "extensive" worksite assessments and ergonomic measures have helped block a worker's claim that his sudden onset of back pain was caused by work and a new standing desk.
> COVID face coverings can create new work risks, regulator warns; > "Second line of defence" prescribed for Qld mines; > Employers reminded of new quad bike safety standards; and > New online system helps WHS notifications in Tas.
